Dual platform puzzle game

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a dual-board puzzle comprising a first game board portion; a second game board portion; and a plurality of playing pieces NP. The first game board portion and said second game board portion are mirror images of one another. Each game board portion includes a top surface having a number ND of depressions therein. The plurality of playing pieces NP equals the number of depressions ND −1.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/279,217, filed Nov. 15, 2021, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the technology relate, in general, to systems, apparatuses and methods for puzzles, particularly puzzles involving pegs and boards.

BACKGROUND

Puzzles provide for enjoyment and mental challenges. Puzzles are often in the form of a board, such as wooden board, having depressions distributed in a pattern in which puzzle pieces, such as pegs, nails, marbles, and the like, can be placed and manipulated. Certain puzzles are solved as puzzle pieces in the form of pegs that are removed from or placed into depressions in the form of holes in the board. Removed pegs can become separated from the game, dropped, lost, or otherwise rendered problematic for continuing or repeated enjoyment of the puzzle.

SUMMARY

An embodiment of the present disclosure teaches a method of playing a game comprising: establishing a dual-board puzzle, wherein said dual-board puzzle has a first game board portion and a second game board portion, wherein said first game board portion and said second game board portion are mirror images of one another, and wherein each said game board portion includes a top surface having a number ND of depressions therein; setting up a playing field of either said first game board portion or said second game board portion to establish a playing field portion of said game board and a jumped pieces portion, wherein said step of setting up a playing field includes placing a number of playing pieces NP into the depressions of the playing field portion, and wherein the number of playing pieces NP equals the number of depressions ND −1 such that there is one empty depression; beginning gameplay by moving a playing piece over an adjacent playing piece into the one empty depression such that the adjacent playing piece becomes a jumped playing piece; removing the jumped playing piece from the playing field portion to create an additional empty depression on the playing field portion; placing said jumped playing piece into a depression of the jumped pieces portion; and repeating the steps of moving a playing piece over an adjacent playing piece into one of the empty depressions to create additional jumped playing pieces, removing the additional jumped playing pieces to create additional empty depression, and playing the additional jumped playing pieces into depressions of the jumped pieces portion until only one playing piece remains on the playing field portion.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure teaches a method as above further comprising the additional step of placing the one remaining playing piece located on the playing field portion onto the jumped pieces portion, such that the jumped pieces portion becomes the playing field portion and the playing field portion becomes the jumped pieces portion, and wherein gameplay may continue.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure teaches a method as above wherein the first game board portion and the second game board portion are separate pieces secured together through a hinged connection.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure teaches a method as above wherein the first game board portion and the second game board portion can be folded along the hinged connection such that the first puzzle board portion forms a top portion and second puzzle board portion forms a bottom portion.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure teaches a method as above wherein both the first and second puzzle board portions each contain a compartment on a bottom surface thereof.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure teaches a method as above wherein when the first and second puzzle board portions are folded along the hinged connection, the compartment of the first puzzle board portion matches up with the compartment of the second puzzle board portion.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure teaches a method as above wherein the first game board portion and the second game board portion come from a unitary piece of material, and wherein the first game board portion and the second game board portion are separated by an imaginary plane.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure teaches a method as above wherein at least one of the first or second game board portions contains a compartment on a bottom surface thereof.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure teaches a method as above wherein the dual-board puzzle further contains at least one complementary compartment closing piece which is securable to the one or more compartments.

An embodiment of the present disclosure teaches a dual-board puzzle comprising: a first game board portion; a second game board portion, wherein said first game board portion and said second game board portion are mirror images of one another, and wherein each said game board portion includes a top surface having a number ND of depressions therein; and a plurality of playing pieces NP wherein the plurality of playing pieces NP equals the number of depressions ND −1.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure teaches a dual-board puzzle as above wherein the plurality of playing pieces NP are placeable within the depressions ND.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure teaches a dual-board puzzle as above wherein when the plurality of playing pieces NP are placed within the depressions ND of only one of the game portions, there is one empty depression ND within said one of the game portions.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure teaches a dual-board puzzle as above wherein the first game board portion and the second game portion are a unitary piece of material.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure teaches a dual-board puzzle as above wherein at least one of the first or second game board portions contains a compartment on a bottom surface thereof.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure teaches a dual-board puzzle as above further comprising at least one complementary compartment closing piece which is securable to the one or more compartments.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure teaches a dual-board puzzle as above wherein the first game board portion and the second game board portion are separate pieces secured together through a hinged connection.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure teaches a dual-board puzzle as above wherein the first game board portion and the second game board portion can be folded along the hinged connection such that the first puzzle board portion forms a top portion and second puzzle board portion forms a bottom portion.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure teaches a dual-board puzzle as above wherein both the first and second puzzle board portions each contain a compartment on a bottom surface thereof.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure teaches a dual-board puzzle as above wherein when the first and second puzzle board portions are folded along the hinged connection, and the compartment of the first puzzle board portion matches up with the compartment of the second puzzle board portion.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure teaches a dual-board puzzle as above wherein the first and second puzzle board portions are in the shape of triangles and wherein the plurality of playing pieces NP are golf tees.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure will be more readily understood from a detailed description of some example embodiments taken in conjunction with the following figures:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a puzzle having a triangular shape;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a puzzle having a circular shape;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a puzzle having a double-diamond shape;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a puzzle having a cross shape;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a puzzle having a triangular shape;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a puzzle having a triangular shape;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a dual-board puzzle;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a dual-board puzzle;

FIG. 9 shows a plan view of the bottom portion of one embodiment of the dual-board puzzle of FIG. 7 ;

FIG. 10 shows a side plane view of the dual-board puzzle of FIG. 7 wherein the first puzzle board portion is folded against the second puzzle board portion along a hinged connection; and

FIG. 11 shows a plan view of a bottom portion of one embodiment of the dual-board puzzle of FIG. 7 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described to provide an overall understanding of the principles of the structure, function, and use of the apparatuses, systems, methods, and processes disclosed herein. One or more examples of these non-limiting embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that systems and methods specifically described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings are non-limiting embodiments. The features illustrated or described in connection with one non-limiting embodiment may be combined with the features of other non-limiting embodiments. Such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure.

Reference throughout the specification to “various embodiments,” “some embodiments,” “one embodiment,” “some example embodiments,” “one example embodiment,” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with any embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in various embodiments,” “in some embodiments,” “in one embodiment,” “some example embodiments,” “one example embodiment, or “in an embodiment” in places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

The examples discussed herein are examples only and are provided to assist in the explanation of the apparatuses, devices, systems and methods described herein. None of the features or components shown in the drawings or discussed below should be taken as mandatory for any specific implementation of any of these the apparatuses, devices, systems or methods unless specifically designated as mandatory. For ease of reading and clarity, certain components, modules, or methods may be described solely in connection with a specific figure. Any failure to specifically describe a combination or sub-combination of components should not be understood as an indication that any combination or sub-combination is not possible. Also, for any methods described, regardless of whether the method is described in conjunction with a flow diagram, it should be understood that unless otherwise specified or required by context, any explicit or implicit ordering of steps performed in the execution of a method does not imply that those steps must be performed in the order presented but instead may be performed in a different order or in parallel.

Technical solutions to issues related to the enjoyment and efficient play of puzzles can be achieved by the systems, apparatuses and methods of the present disclosure. In general, the components of the apparatuses described herein, unless otherwise described, can be made of plastic materials, wood materials, and/or polymer composite materials including injection-molded plastic materials, or any other suitable materials. The materials, size, shape, weight and other physical characteristics for puzzles and their components can be selected for ease of use when holding in one's hands, one's lap, on the floor, or on tabletops, and the like, as well as for cleanability, wear resistance, and/or durability, depending on the puzzle's use application.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4 , there is shown examples of board games involving a game board having a plurality of depressions distributed in a pattern and a plurality of puzzle pieces intended to utilize the depressions during the play of the puzzle. For example, FIG. 1 shows a puzzle 10 having a triangular-shaped pattern of depressions 16 on a triangular-shaped game board 12. Puzzle pieces in the form of pegs 14 can be inserted and removed from the depressions 16, which are holes in this embodiment, during the play of the puzzle. Similarly, FIG. 2 shows a puzzle 20 having a circular-shaped pattern of depressions 26 on a square-shaped game board 22. Puzzle pieces in the form of pegs 24 can be inserted and removed from the depressions 26, which are holes in this embodiment, during the play of the puzzle. In the illustrated embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2 , the depressions 16 and 26 can be in the form of cylindrical holes formed by, for example, a drill bit, and the pegs are generally shaped to fit into and out of the cylindrical holes. In an embodiment, a puzzle piece in the general shape and form of a golf tee can be used as a peg.

Referring to FIG. 3 there is shown a puzzle 30 having a double diamond-shaped pattern of depressions 36 on a rectangular-shaped game board 32. Puzzle pieces in the form of cylindrical pieces 34 can be inserted and removed from the depressions 36, which are holes in this embodiment, during the play of the puzzle. Similarly, FIG. 4 shows a puzzle 40 in the form of a cross-shaped pattern of depressions 46 on a square-shaped game board 42. Puzzle pieces in the form of spherical-shaped marbles 44 can be inserted and removed from the depressions 46, which are hemispherical depressions in this embodiment, during the play of the puzzle.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6 there is shown a representative example use of a puzzle, in this case the puzzle 10 as depicted in FIG. 1 . As shown in FIG. 5 , during a representative play of the puzzle a first peg 14A can be removed from its depression 16 and moved to an open depression 16A. In doing so, first peg 14A “jumps” second peg 14B as indicated by the arrow A1. Second peg 14B is removed from the board 12 and set aside, as indicated by the arrow A2. Over the course of the play of the puzzle 10, eventually most, if not all (or, if solved, all but one), of the pieces 14 are removed from the board 12 and set aside as indicated by the group of second pegs 14B in FIG. 6 . In one or more embodiments, one or more of the removed second pegs 14B can be lost, misplaced, be dispersed, or otherwise be the cause of a lack of continued use of the puzzle 10.

Referring now to FIG. 7 there is shown an example embodiment of a dual-board puzzle 100. The illustrated embodiment of FIG. 7 is shown as being an improvement of the puzzle 10 of FIGS. 1, 5 and 6. However, the illustrated embodiment is not to be limited only to the shape and design shown; the description herein can apply to any of the types of puzzle involving a game board and pieces of the types described, such as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 , in which certain of the pieces are intended to be removed from the board during play. The dual-board puzzle 100 has a first puzzle board portion 102 and a second puzzle board portion 104. In an embodiment, the first puzzle board portion 102 and the second puzzle board portion 104 can be identical in size and shape, that is, they can be mirror images. In an embodiment, the first puzzle board portion 102 and the second puzzle board portion 104 can be unitary and distinguished by an imaginary plane 110 dividing the dual-board puzzle 100 into substantially identical or very similar halves. In an embodiment, the first puzzle board portion 102 and the second puzzle board portion 104 can be separate members and can be joined at, hinged about, or otherwise manipulated about the imaginary plane 110. For example, in an embodiment, the first puzzle board portion 102 and the second puzzle board portion 104 can be joined by a hinge 111 about the imaginary plane 110 and can be folded together, such that, when not in use, first puzzle board portion 102 would form a top portion and second puzzle board portion 104 would form a bottom portion and the two portions can be folded together into a compact unit.

In an embodiment, one of or both the first puzzle board portion 102 and the second puzzle board portion 104 can have a compartment 118 on a bottom surface 105 thereof in which to store the puzzle pieces. In an embodiment, wherein the first puzzle board portion 102 and the second puzzle board portion 104 are a unitary piece, only one of the first puzzle board portion 102 and the second puzzle board portion 104 has a compartment 118 on a bottom surface 105, such as shown in FIG. 11 . In such an embodiment, the compartment 118 has a complementary piece 119 which is closeably securable to the compartment 118 to allow for safe storage of the puzzle pieces when puzzle pieces are located with said compartment. In an embodiment, wherein the first puzzle board portion 102 and the second puzzle board portion 104 are separate pieces, both the first puzzle board portion 102 and the second puzzle board portion 104 contain compartments 118 on a bottom surface 105, such as shown in FIG. 9 . In such an embodiment, when the first puzzle board portion 102 and the second puzzle board portion 104 are folded together such as shown in FIG. 10 , the compartments 118 of each portion match up to contain the puzzle pieces such that a complementary piece is not needed.

The dual-board puzzle 100 has at least twice as many depressions because the first puzzle board 102 has first depressions 112 on a top surface 103 and the second puzzle board 104 has second depressions 116 on a top surface 103. Therefore, the dual-board puzzle 100 has at least twice as many depressions as needed to play the puzzle on one of the first puzzle board portion 102 or the second puzzle board portion 104. As shown in FIG. 7 , for example, the puzzle can be played to completion utilizing only the first depressions 112 of the first puzzle board portion 102. The second depressions 116 of the second puzzle board portion 104 are not necessary for movement of each of the pieces 114 in an effort to complete the puzzle on the first puzzle board portion 102. However, the second depressions 116 can be utilized to receive the “jumped” and removed second pieces 114B during play to avoid the situation in which each of the “jumped” pieces second pieces 114B must be laid aside outside of the dual-board puzzle 100.

Referring now to FIG. 8 there is shown a method of use of a representative dual-board puzzle 100 in which the “jumped” pieces, such as 114B are not laid aside outside of the puzzle and subject to loss. Because the dual-board puzzle 100 has at least twice as many depressions as needed to play the puzzle on one of the first puzzle board portion 102 or the second puzzle board portion 104, the puzzle pieces 114 need not be laid loosely aside during play but rather can be placed in any unused depression on the portion of the dual-board puzzle 100 not currently being used for the puzzle.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 , puzzle play on the first game board portion 102 is in progress. Before the start of the play all the game pieces 114 are set up appropriately to the puzzle in the first depressions 112 of the first game board portion 102. As play progresses “jumped” pieces, rather than laid aside outside of the puzzle, are moved to any one of the open depressions 116 of the second game board portion 104. For example, as indicated, a first piece 114A can move from a first depression 112A to a second depression 112B of the first game board portion 102 as shown by the arrow A3. The jumped piece 114B is removed and moved to a depression 116A of the second game board portion 104, as shown by the arrow A4. Likewise, a second piece 114C can move from a first depression 112A to a second depression 112B of the first game board portion 102 as shown by the arrow A5. The jumped piece 114D is removed and moved to a depression 116A of the second game board 104, as shown by the arrow A6.

As can be understood, in the method of use of the dual-board puzzle 100 all of the game pieces 114 removed from a first game board portion 102 of the dual-board puzzle 100 can be placed in a depression of a second game board portion 104 of the dual-board puzzle 100. In this manner none of the removed game pieces 114 are rendered loose and susceptible to loss. Moreover, once the puzzle is finished on the first game board portion 102 the puzzle pieces 114 are set up for immediate play from the second game board portion 104. That is, there is no need to gather up loose pieces from the first puzzle play and insert them again for another play. They are, by nature of the structure and method of dual-board puzzle 100, already set up for play.

The foregoing description of embodiments and examples has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. For example, the dual-board puzzle can be utilized in puzzles that start with all the pegs in either of the dual patterns and as each is removed can be placed in the empty pattern, or, alternatively, in puzzles that start with the pattern of the puzzle being worked on empty with the goal to add all the pegs to the duplicate pattern. Thus, it is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting to the forms described. Numerous modifications are possible in light of the above teachings. Some of those modifications have been discussed, and others will be understood by those skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best illustrate principles of various embodiments as are suited to particular uses contemplated. The scope is, of course, not limited to the examples set forth herein, but can be employed in any number of applications and equivalent devices by those of ordinary skill in the art. Rather it is hereby intended the scope of the invention to be defined by the claims appended hereto. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of playing a game comprising: establishing a dual-board puzzle, wherein said dual-board puzzle has a first game board portion and a second game board portion, wherein said first game board portion and said second game board portion are mirror images of one another, and wherein each said game board portion includes a top surface having a number ND of depressions therein; setting up a playing field of either said first game board portion or said second game board portion to establish a playing field portion of said game board and a jumped pieces portion, wherein said step of setting up a playing field includes placing a number of playing pieces NP into the depressions of the playing field portion, and wherein the number of playing pieces NP equals the number of depressions ND −1 such that there is one empty depression; beginning gameplay by moving a playing piece over an adjacent playing piece into the one empty depression such that the adjacent playing piece becomes a jumped playing piece; removing the jumped playing piece from the playing field portion to create an additional empty depression on the playing field portion; placing said jumped playing piece into a depression of the jumped pieces portion; and repeating the steps of moving a playing piece over an adjacent playing piece into one of the empty depressions to create additional jumped playing pieces, removing the additional jumped playing pieces to create additional empty depression, and playing the additional jumped playing pieces into depressions of the jumped pieces portion until only one playing piece remains on the playing field portion.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the additional step of placing the one remaining playing piece located on the playing field portion onto the jumped pieces portion, such that the jumped pieces portion becomes the playing field portion and the playing field portion becomes the jumped pieces portion, and wherein gameplay may continue.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first game board portion and the second game board portion are separate pieces secured together through a hinged connection.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first game board portion and the second game board portion can be folded along the hinged connection such that the first puzzle board portion forms a top portion and second puzzle board portion forms a bottom portion.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein both the first and second puzzle board portions each contain a compartment on a bottom surface thereof.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein when the first and second puzzle board portions are folded along the hinged connection, and the compartment of the first puzzle board portion matches up with the compartment of the second puzzle board portion.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first game board portion and the second game board portion come from a unitary piece of material, and wherein the first game board portion and the second game board portion are separated by an imaginary plane.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein at least one of the first or second game board portions contains a compartment on a bottom surface thereof.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the dual-board puzzle further contains at least one complementary compartment closing piece which is securable to the one or more compartments.
 10. A dual-board puzzle comprising: a first game board portion; a second game board portion, wherein said first game board portion and said second game board portion are mirror images of one another, and wherein each said game board portion includes a top surface having a number ND of depressions therein; and a plurality of playing pieces NP wherein the plurality of playing pieces NP equals the number of depressions ND −1.
 11. The dual-board puzzle of claim 10, wherein the plurality of playing pieces NP are placeable within the depressions ND.
 12. The dual-board puzzle of claim 11, wherein when the plurality of playing pieces NP are placed within the depressions ND of only one of the game portions, there is one empty depression ND within said one of the game portions.
 13. The dual-board puzzle of claim 10, wherein the first game board portion and the second game portion are a unitary piece of material.
 14. The dual-board puzzle of claim 13, wherein at least one of the first or second game board portions contains a compartment on a bottom surface thereof.
 15. The dual-board puzzle of claim 14, further comprising at least one complementary compartment closing piece which is securable to the one or more compartments.
 16. The dual-board puzzle of claim 10, wherein the first game board portion and the second game board portion are separate pieces secured together through a hinged connection.
 17. The dual-board puzzle of claim 16, wherein the first game board portion and the second game board portion can be folded along the hinged connection such that the first puzzle board portion forms a top portion and second puzzle board portion forms a bottom portion.
 18. The dual-board puzzle of claim 17, wherein both the first and second puzzle board portions each contain a compartment on a bottom surface thereof.
 19. The dual-board puzzle of claim 18, wherein when the first and second puzzle board portions are folded along the hinged connection, and the compartment of the first puzzle board portion matches up with the compartment of the second puzzle board portion.
 20. The dual-board puzzle of claim 10, wherein the first and second puzzle board portions are in the shape of triangles and wherein the plurality of playing pieces NP are golf tees. 